Why Renault's return is going so badly

A decade after it took Fernando Alonso to the second of his Formula 1 titles, Renault is struggling to escape Q1 on a regular basis in its return as a constructor. Was its takeover of Lotus always supposed to be this difficult? And where does it go now?

Given the protracted nature of Renault's 2015 buyout of the old Lotus team, the 2016 Formula 1 season was always likely to be a difficult one for the revived union between Viry and Enstone. But few people, including elements of the team management, expected it to be as tough as it has been so far.

Apart from a surprise seventh place finish for Kevin Magnussen in May's Russian Grand Prix at Sochi, Renault has scored no points, it has only made Q2 twice in eight races, and sits a distant ninth in the constructors' championship - above only the scoreless Sauber and Manor squads.